Source: Boulcott Hospital
The transformation of Lower Hutt’s only private hospital including the addition of two new state-of-the-art operating theatres will greatly enhance surgical services in the Wellington region.
Health Minister Simeon Brown cut the ribbon today on a refurbished and expanded Boulcott Hospital, completed after a $25 million investment that included two new operating theatres.
“The hospital is a win for the community in delivering better patient care,” says Boulcott Hospital Chair Sue Suckling.
“One of the government’s five key priorities for the health sector is to clear the elective surgery backlog by partnering with the private sector to deliver more planned care. An expanded Boulcott Hospital will help deliver on this goal,” says Suckling.
“From starting out in 1984 with one surgical theatre and a small but dedicated team, we’re proud to be opening our fourth and fifth theatres, growing our post anaesthetic unit, and now have a team of 115 in our professional health care and support team,” she says.
“The expansion was made possible by strong support from Vital Healthcare Property Trust and the Hutt community – it was designed and built by local companies and includes art from the Hutt Art Society creating a vibrant and comforting atmosphere for patients,” says Suckling.
She said it was fitting that some of the founding surgeons who realised a vision in 1984 to build a health facility within walking distance of Hutt Hospital will be in attendance, alongside a new group of surgeons who now own the hospital in partnership with New Zealand investment company Rangatira.
The hospital opened in a former Argentine embassy house after a great idea from a small group of doctors with a tiny budget. She acknowledged the original founders – doctors John Ainsworth, Chris Bossley, Howard Clentworth, Gary Duncan, Ray Fong, Richard Grenfell, Jeremy Hornibrook, Tony Marks and Andrew Simmonds.
One of the founding doctors, Chris Bossley, said: “I’m thrilled to be at the opening of a significant addition to our once small hospital, as it will mean improved access to healthcare for patients in the Wellington region and the Hutt Valley in particular. Not all the founders could be here today, but I know they are here in spirit, proud to see what their once tiny hospital has become – a significant health care provider and asset to the Hutt Valley community.”
From its beginnings in the converted embassy, Boulcott has expanded in size over the last 41 years and the current buildings along with the neighbouring Hutt Valley Health Hub are now owned by Vital Healthcare Property Trust.
“In partnership with Boulcott Hospital and Rangatira Investment, Vital has invested approximately $25m into this regionally significant surgical capacity expansion and redevelopment,” said Vital’s Vice President Development (New Zealand), Kirsty Bowyer.
“With our expertise in healthcare property development, Vital Healthcare Property Trust helped to deliver the Boulcott Hospital expansion as part of our broader billion-dollar investment in healthcare infrastructure across the country,” Bowyer says.
